Lab Assistants
Lab assistants make the wheels turn in the GIS Lab. They are a diverse group of students who have completed at least ID 210. They staff the GIS Center (see schedule below) generally in the evenings when Director Bettigole is not around. Lab assistants serve as hybrid teaching assistants, lab assistants, and research assistants. They are available to help students in ID 210, as well as support faculty research across disciplines. You can often find lab assistants working on a map for faculty publications, digitizing Maya ruins in Guatemala, or consoling confused Intro GIS Students. Don't hesistate to swing by and use this amazing resource!
Maggie Carmody
Environmental Science major, Statistics minor - 2024
Certified Drone Pilot
Hey, I’m Maggie. I’m an Environmental Science and Statistics Minor, and I’m super excited about GIS because it turns complex numeric datasets into accessible, meaningful products. Outside of the lab, I’m the General Manager for WSPN 91.1 FM. Catch Ripe Tomatoes on Thursdays from 10-11 PM.
Sam haas
Environmental Science major, Statistics minor - 2024
I like GIS because it allows you to do exciting analyses on almost any topic at almost any scale and is a great method of science communication! I enjoy the GIS lab and the events we put on (I’m coming for the Geoguessr championship this semester).
Annie Kiernan
Environmental Studies major, Statistics minor - 2024
Certified Drone Pilot
This is my second year working in the GIS lab. I love GIS because it is interdisciplinary, pulling threads from all kinds of different areas of academic and personal interest. Being able to connect history, science, math, archeology, etc. is something that you can achieve with GIS which is truly unique. Also, who doesn’t love maps? When I’m not busy running around on campus, I love to hike in the ADKs, ski, do hot yoga, and bake sourdough bread. I also love hanging with my dogs Muppet and Cacho
Ciaran Healey
Chemistry and Environmental Science major - 2024
Certified Drone Pilot
I'm excited to be a lab assistant again this year! I am a senior Environmental Science // Chemistry major, and I find GIS applicable for almost every class I've had so far. I love how versatile the tool is-- 80% of all data has a spatial component! GIS lets you explore environmental topics, social issues, history and so much more, connecting stories through all of the data to really tell a complete story. It's really cool to be able to connect historical records with the cutting edge of remote-sensing technology in order to help solve pressing global problems
Kaitlin Katirachi
Environmental Science major - 2024
Hi! My name is Kaitlin and I'm one of the GIS lab assistants this year! I've taken
intro and advanced GIS and started as a lab assistant last fall, then spent the spring
semester studying
abroad in Australia doing an environmental action program. Last summer I worked with
my fellow GIS lab assistant Kate on a five-week research project using GIS to study
the effects of the invasive spongey moth on tree mortality in the Lake George watershed.
I also worked on twosmall organic farms in Washington! I enjoy GIS because it is challenging,
versatile, and important. Looking at many major environmental, social, and political
issues you can use GIS to present findings much more clearly and to a wider audience.
Come to my lab hours Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday nights!!
Kate Manor
Environmental Science major - 2024
Hi I’m Kate! I’m a senior environmental studies major, and I’m passionate about rock climbing, polar plunges, and a good bowl of soup. I love GIS because I’m a visual learner, and being able to shape data into cool maps lets me combine artistic creativity and data analytics in a really comprehensive and compelling way. There are also so many opportunities for GIS to be used in conservation and environmental education - both of which I’d like to pursue in the future. I’m super amped to be a lab assistant this year, and hope I can help share the love of maps!!!
EMILY HEALY
Environmental Science major
I love GIS because of its ability to share complicated and important data in an accessible format. I’m currently using GIS while working for the San Bartolo-Xultun Regional Archaeological Project Lidar Initiative rendering polygons from DEM data of previously undocumented archaeological sites in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala with Professor Heather Hurst. My favorite project so far has been working with the DEC to create a method of mapping spongymoth defoliation across NYS.
Sara Powers
Computer Science major - 2025
I find the interdisciplinary nature of GIS to be really cool! To me, it’s a way to combine my love for technology to practically any subject, since it has so many different applications. I’m especially interested in its use in both geologic and archaeological settings; in fact, my favorite project has been working with Prof. Heather Hurst to digitize “footprints” of ancient Maya civilization in Guatemala.
Logan Mallory
Undecided - 2026
Hey, I’m Logan. I’m a Sophomore at Skidmore, and I enjoy GIS and the lab because of the collaborative community of map-makers it fosters. I love making pretty maps that convey data ina super digestible format, and it’s why GIS is such a great tool. My favorite project which was with Kate was finding out how much carbon Skidmore’s newly acquired lands stored. I love to cook, chill outside, play games, and help you with your maps hope to see you in the lab.